Tour de France 2017: Stage 5 Preview

After four stages, it is already time for the first mountain stage in this year’s Tour de France.

In the first part of this post, you will all the necessary information to follow this stage. Furthermore, I will give you the current situation in the general classification. Afterwards, you will get the names of the riders, who could, in my opinion, win this stage.

​What may we expect ?

The fifth stage of the 104th edition of the Tour de France will start in Vittel at 13:10. Afterwards, it could be a battle to be in the breakaway because there is a chance that the stage win is up for grabs. The reason for this is because the intention of the main general classification riders isn’t clear.

The riders, who manage to get in the breakaway will also have the opportunity to fight for the intermediate sprint in Faucogney, which is 48 kilometres away from the finish and for the points for the polka dot jersey at the top of the “Côte d’Esmoulières”, which is only 43 kilometres away from the finish line. Afterwards, the riders will go to the first tough climb of this year’s edition. The ascent to “La Planche des Belles Filles” (category 1) lasts only 5.9 kilometres but has an average gradient of 8.5 % with parts even up to 20 % in the final kilometre. While the riders in the breakaway will be battling for the stage, the riders of the general classification will also fight for the first time.

The riders will probably finish somewhere between 17:04 and 17:15.

What is the situation in the general classification ?

Who may we expect ?There are two main scenarios. The first one is that the win goes to a rider from the early breakaway. This scenario could happen, but everything will depend on the intentions in the peloton. If some teams with a general classification rider aren’t interested in the stage win, the breakaway will get a big advantage and will fight for the stage win.
If there is a team with general classification rider, they will control the peloton and the stage win will go to a general classification rider. Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team) has, in my opinion, the best chances to win the stage. The Australian wants to gain time towards his rivals. The Australian showed in the stage to Longwy that he has good legs and could use it to win this stage.​This picture comes from www.heraldsun.com.au.It can also be that the stage win will go to Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo). The Spaniard should be able to handle the high gradients and has launches team with riders like Zubeldia, Felline, Mollema and Pantano, who can set a really high pace. As a consequence, he could pressure his rivals before he launches his attack.
Furthermore, there is also a chance that the stage win will go to Daniel Martin (Team Quick Step Floors). The Irishman showed in the stage to Longwy, where he finished in second, that his condition is good. Furthermore, he has also proven in the past that he can handle with the steep gradients.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) could also try to win the stage. The Briton always does something in the first real mountain stage. In my opinion, he could do it again because he has a really good team with riders like Nieve, Landa, Kwiatkowski and Sergio Henao. If he does it, he will pressure his rivals and show everybody, who is the strongest.
It is also possible that the stage win goes to none of the riders, who I have mentioned above. Riders like Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Jakob Fuglsang, Fabio Aru ( both Astana pro Team), Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) and Rafal Majka (Team Bora Hansgrohe) are also candidates for the stage win because they have proven in the past that they can win a stage like this.

Who may we expect ?

There are two main scenarios. The first one is that the win goes to a rider from the early breakaway. This scenario could happen, but everything will depend on the intentions in the peloton. If some teams with a general classification rider aren’t interested in the stage win, the breakaway will get a big advantage and will fight for the stage win.

If there is a team with general classification rider, they will control the peloton and the stage win will go to a general classification rider. Richie Porte (BMC Racing Team) has, in my opinion, the best chances to win the stage. The Australian wants to gain time towards his rivals. The Australian showed in the stage to Longwy that he has good legs and could use it to win this stage.

It can also be that the stage win will go to Alberto Contador (Trek Segafredo). The Spaniard should be able to handle the high gradients and has launches team with riders like Zubeldia, Felline, Mollema and Pantano, who can set a really high pace. As a consequence, he could pressure his rivals before he launches his attack.

Furthermore, there is also a chance that the stage win will go to Daniel Martin (Team Quick Step Floors). The Irishman showed in the stage to Longwy, where he finished in second, that his condition is good. Furthermore, he has also proven in the past that he can handle with the steep gradients.

Chris Froome (Team Sky) could also try to win the stage. The Briton always does something in the first real mountain stage. In my opinion, he could do it again because he has a really good team with riders like Nieve, Landa, Kwiatkowski and Sergio Henao. If he does it, he will pressure his rivals and show everybody, who is the strongest.

It is also possible that the stage win goes to none of the riders, who I have mentioned above. Riders like Romain Bardet (AG2R La Mondiale), Jakob Fuglsang, Fabio Aru ( both Astana pro Team), Nairo Quintana (Team Movistar) and Rafal Majka (Team Bora Hansgrohe) are also candidates for the stage win because they have proven in the past that they can win a stage like this.